Episode 258​Basic Christian Principles​Regarding the Law

Notes:

BASIC CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES REGARDING THE LAW One portion of the Bible that is often taken out of context and misunderstood is Colossians Chapter Two. First, let us review a few basics of Christianity. Believers cannot earn their salvation. It is a free gift provided by the sacrifice of the Messiah. But, our repentance from sinful dead works is required. God wants deep, meaningful repentance. The understanding required for this repentance is also a gift from God. We all need to repent and ask for additional help to understand what God requires.

Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (NKJV)

When one repents of dead sinful works, he strives to turn himself away from the dead works. Sin produces death and God wants us to turn away from all forms of evil as defined by God's Laws. Repentance from sinful deadly works is a elementary principle of Christianity as explained by the Apostle John.

1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (KJV)

Breaking of God's Holy Law is the definition of sin. The Apostle James explains another basic principle of Christianity regarding the kind of faith that is required.

Jas 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (NKJV)

Paul never said that obeying the law or that the works of the law were nailed to the cross. The world is deceived and misunderstands the Apostle Paul.

Ro 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Ro 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (NKJV)

Paul means that we are not under indictment of the law. We are not under condemnation of the law, our law debt has been paid by Jesus. No reasonable person would tell a thief who had been pardoned that he can now steal anytime it is convenient for him.

Ro 8:4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (NKJV)

Believers should be the light of the world setting a good example of righteous obedience to God. If the law is dead then repentance is unnecessary because no law exists for one to break.

BEWARE LEST ANY MAN SPOIL YOU THROUGH VAIN PHILOSOPHY What is the basic topic of Colossians Two? It is that we must avoid being deceived by worldly, vain philosophies. Paul says do not be deceived by traditions of this ungodly society.

Col 2:4 Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (NKJV)

Paul warns them to beware of deceptions based on worldly philosophies. He tells them to walk in Christ or be obedient to Christ. This chapter is not written against the Laws of God or any parts of the Old Testament. Paul does not condemn the Old Testament but instead, the traditions and philosophies of men as did Jesus. False teachers had infiltrated the Colossian Church and were directing the people into various man- made philosophies and traditions. God's Laws are good for people. The Feast Days including the Sabbaths, are for our refreshing and celebrating. It is opportunity to spend time on Godly, uplifting actions that are good for us. The Old Testament Feast Days are good for us. Paul tells the Colossians.

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was AGAINST US, which was CONTRARY TO US. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (NKJV)

The things that were against us were our sins or our guilt. The indictments for our sins was against us. It has been wiped out by Jesus. Christ has given us a clean record. But it is unbelievable for someone to claim that God's Laws themselves are against us. The Law helps keep us out of trouble. It is like a light in the dark. Paul says that the Law is good.

Ro 7:12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good. 13 Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. (NKJV)

The Law is good for us. We humans just need the help and grace of God. Clearly God's Laws are good for us and his feast days should be enjoyable. The worldly philosophies were challenging these basic concepts in the eyes of the Colossians. Remember Paul is warning about the traditions of men and the doctrines of men. Traditions of men instead of scriptures are still a problem in the modern era. Paul tried to keep the peoples' focus on Christ and what he did for our salvation. The false teachers tried to put their focus on the worship of angels and the neglecting of the body or asceticism for spiritual purity the human way. This in contrast to God's festivals (Sabbaths).

Col 2:18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (NKJV)

Col 2:21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. (NKJV)

The false teachers that Paul is countering in this letter are clearly pagan ascetics. This is all counter to the robustness of God's Ways which are good for mankind both physically and spiritually. Today some misunderstand faith. They somehow perceive that it is either salvation by faith or the law. This means to them any law they wish to avoid can be altered or ignored, based on faith. Did Paul really convey this meaning​? Let us read a clear statement by Paul. He emphasized the importance of faith in helping the church cope with the Judaizer Party and in so doing wondered if some would misunderstand him. So he clarified the issue.

Ro 3:30 since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.​Paul was clear he posed the question and then answered it. Grace and faith actually work together and establish the law. We need God grace and help via the spirit to grow in love and obedience we cannot do it alone but Paul would never tells us to disobey the written Laws of God. They are holy and just.

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